Over 85% of dogs and cats over 4 years old have some form of periodontal (dental) disease. Dental disease causes bad breath (halitosis) and pain, it is also a source of infection and can make your pet seriously ill.

Dental disease is preventable in the vast majority of cases and in most cases, easy to achieve at home. There are many different methods to keep your pet's "pearly white" teeth and these should be started while they are puppies and kittens.

In this handout we will discuss several preventative measures you can take. Brushing your pet's teeth daily is the ‘gold standard' and most thorough, although we will discuss other measures such as feeding raw bones, dental diets, rinses, etc.

For adult cats and dogs with existing dental disease, a dental treatment with a scale and polish under general anaesthetic is often necessary to get their mouth back into top condition. This will allow us to start prevention with a clean mouth and hoping to prevent, or slow down dental disease developing again in the future.

Brushing your pet's teeth

Brushing your pet's teeth daily can help control plaque build up and prevent periodontal disease.

Select a toothbrush

• Choose a soft toothbrush only
• Toddler brushes are great for small dogs and cats
• Dog and Cat toothbrushes are available at the clinic
• Electric toothbrushes are easy to use and more efficient. Your pet may be frightened by the noise and will need to be trained to accept this.
• Make sure you label your pet's toothbrush and keep it separate from the family toothbrushes!

Select a toothpaste

Do not use human toothpaste when brushing your pet's teeth as your pet may swallow it. Human toothpaste is not designed to be swallowed and has ingredients that can upset your pet's stomach.

Pet toothpaste is chicken or beef flavoured which may help your pet accept it. Pet toothpaste is also safe if it is swallowed. Sometimes our pets will like the toothpaste too much!! In this case we may suggest dipping the toothbrush in an oral rinse instead.

Introduce your pet to teeth brushing

Cats and small dogs may feel more comfortable if they can sit on their owners lap while having their teeth brushed.

• Begin slowly, initial sessions should be brief, a minute or two and well rewarded.
• Get your pet used to the toothbrush by dipping it in tuna juice, chicken or beef stock or just use water.
• Next try offering the toothbrush with the paste, without brushing. Allow your pet to taste the paste.
• When your pet is comfortable with the brush try brushing one or two strokes on a few teeth. Slowly increase the amount of brushing as your pet becomes more comfortable.
• Start at the front of the mouth. Pets are often more accepting of this.

Using a toothbrush

The toothbrush bristles should be placed at the gum margin where the teeth and gums meet at a 45 degree angle. The movement should be in an oval pattern. Be sure to gently force the bristle ends into the area around the base of the tooth as well as into the space between the teeth.

Using a finger brush

Place the finger brush on your index finger and apply pet dental toothpaste. Start at the front of the mouth, using an oval movement brush over the front teeth and gum	Brush to the back of the mouth
Also right along the side of the mouth - moving back and forth

Other alternatives to brushing

While brushing is referred to as the ‘gold standard' in home dental care, it is sometimes not possible due to the personality of your pet, or the amount of spare time you have each day. Listed below are some other alternatives.

Raw Bones

Raw meaty bones are great for cleaning teeth. Dogs and cats have to chew them causing scraping on the teeth and most importantly gum massage, aiding in the removal of plaque.

Do not feed your pet cooked bones as they may splinter and cause intestinal damage

For large, medium and small dogs, ask your butcher for "dinosaur bones", or bones for a large dog. For very small dogs (toy breeds) and cats, raw chicken necks and chicken wings do a great job.
Raw beef strips for cats and pig ears for small dogs can also give gums a good massage.

If you decide to feed raw bones they should be given 2-3 times per week.

Notes on bones :-

• If the bone is cut it should be cut across not lengthways. This is to avoid the ‘fattening' bone marrow being exposed.
• The bone should always be bigger than the dogs head so it cannot be swallowed.
• Bones are for chewing on not "through".
• Dispose of chewed bones.
• Bone chewing should be started as kittens or puppies. It is inadvisable to start later in life as incorrect chewing action may lead to tooth damage.

Treats and Chews

Large hard products such as pig's ears, noses or trotters, rawhide bones and Dentabones encourage your pets to chew. The chewing action aids in the removal of plaque via physical rubbing and the spread of protective saliva. These should not be relied on solely for dental prevention, as they are not as effective as raw bones, but could be fed once a week instead of raw bones for a change.

Dental Diets

Hills t/d is a dry food available for both cats and dogs. It is designed to keep pets teeth clean, while still providing them with a complete balanced diet. Each piece of kibble is larger than usual, specifically designed to encourage and stimulate chewing. It also has a special fibre matrix within each biscuit which aids in the breakdown of plaque. For best results Hills t/d needs to be fed daily, it is a very palatable food, but if your pet is too fussy to enjoy it there is a money back guarantee. Hills t/d is only available at veterinary clinics. The proportion of t/d used for your pet's diet will vary according to the severity and persistence of their dental problems.

Dental toys

There are some toys available which are again great at encouraging your dog to chew. Some of these toys include the Kong (conventional Kong pictured) and Gumabone. Toys are a useful addition to a dental hygiene program, however they should not be relied on solely.

Oral and dental treatments

For pets with severe or persistent dental and gum disease or bad breath using a rinse or gel such as Orivet, Maxiguard or Hexarinse may be advisable. Gum protectant applications such as Oravet may also be prescribed for pets with problem gums.

Veterinary dental treatments

In the majority of pet's lives, there comes a time when their teeth may require veterinary treatment over and above their regular examinations. A dental treatment involves a general anaesthetic and a full dental examination, including charting and scaling, both ultrasonically and by hand, and then finishing with a polish. A very similar procedure used by your own dentist. For more information on dental treatments see our handout ‘Looking after your pet's teeth and gums'.